2013 scarf project

We’re in the last weeks of the scarf project for the Special Olympics.

These are the last states with deadlines through 8 March. If you’re making any scarves for these states, please mail them in now so that they’ll get them in time for their games.

* SO Vermont – 22 February
* SO Washington – 22 February
* SO Colorado – 25 February
* SO Alaska – 1 March
* SO South Dakota – 1 March
* SO Utah – 8 March

* Two states will continue to collect scarves throughout the year for their games next year.
SO Arkansas – colours are RH Cherry Red and Grey Heather.
SO Oklahoma – colours ar RH Cherry Red and Black.

* SO South Dakota just wrote in and said they have about 400 scarves.

* No updated numbers received from the other state programs. They’ll be posted as we get them, but I think it’s safe to say that their goals will not be met by the deadline dates.

* Some state programs have indicated that they will continue the project for next year. They will decide on the colours sometime in the summer or early fall (hopefully earlier).

We did well, considering the late start and a handful of crafters, compared to the 10,000-plus when this was being coordinated by the Special Olympics organization for the previous three years. I’m sure that for next year’s projects we’ll be better prepared to meet their goals … and hopefully there’ll be more state programs participating. I say that with some trepidation, because as much as it would be good if more states participated in the project, that means the total number of scarves to make also goes up …

We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. In the meantime, come on over and join us. Click on the links to the Facebook and Ravelry groups. We’ll be working on one or two smaller causes in the meantime.

I’m finally getting a scarf done for Special Olympics New Jersey. The deadline has been extended through 4 February, so I’m hoping I can get at least two done by then.

This is the Summer Shimmer Scarf pattern from the Treasures Scarf I was working on previously. I really liked the stitch and how easy it was, and yet it came out with this interesting pattern. And since I had to get started on a scarf for NJ, I decided to use the same pattern, this time holding the two strands of yarn together (for a quick knit as well).

The pattern shows up pretty well, even with two different colours. I plan to make a few more scarves in this pattern with the other colour combinations for the remaining states with February and March deadlines.

The numbers are pretty much the same; the scarves are still coming in dribs and drabs. Some states have extended their deadlines, which should help the crafters make some more and add to the numbers.

Here’s a collage of the wonderful scarves made by the crafters.

* SO Delaware – has met their quota; if you have completed scarves for Delaware, please send them directly to the SO office address.

* SO Maryland – has 50/400 confirmed received; if you have completed scarves for Maryland, please send them directly to the SO office address.

* SO New Jersey – has 200/1,000 confirmed received; deadline is extended through 4 February 2013;

* SO Tennessee – deadline has passed; please send completed scarves directly to their SO office, or consider sending them to SO Colorado to help them meet their goal;

* SO Texas – has 290/3,000 confirmed received; deadline is 21 January; they are also accepting fleece scarves in red and grey; please send any completed scarves for Texas now, so they can be distributed in time for their Winter Games;

* SO Washington – they have not received any scarves; deadline is extended to 22 February 2013; if you have completed scarves for Washington, please send them in now.

There’s still time to make one or two scarves for the remaining states with deadlines in February and March. Or click on the Facebook and Ravelry links to take you to the group for more details.

Well, several deadlines for states to receive the scarves for their winter games have come and gone.

Only one state, Iowa, has met their goal. Other states look to be on track to meet their numbers before their deadline, while others are struggling.

Some quick notes in particular:

* SO Alaska – deadline extended through 1 March 2013.

* SO Kentucky – deadline extended through 24 January 2013. They reduced their required numbers to 300, and since they already have 277, they don’t need too much by 24 January. If you have completed scarves, please mail items by 21 January to ensure that they receive the scarves before they leave for the Winter Games during the weekend of 24 January.

* SO New Jersey – deadline extended through 4 February 2013.

* SO Oklahoma – they’ve received enough for a small event, but are nowhere near the number they need for their games. They will continue to collect scarves through December 2013, and use those for next year instead.

* SO Tennessee – deadline has passed, but if you have completed scarves for them, please mail them directly to the SO office. If not, then please consider mailing them to SO Colorado, which has the same colours, and will surely help them meet their goal.

Here’s a summary of where we are today.

* 15 December – Tennessee – 101 of 200 received
* 23 December – Iowa – 800 of 800 received
* 24 January – Indiana – 438 of 800 received
* 13 January – Maryland – 35 of 400 received
* 14 January – Delaware – 39 of 120 received
* 18 January – Arkansas – 13 of 535 received
* 18 January – Kansas – 45 of 125 received
* 21 January – Texas – 290 of 3,000 received
* 24 January – Kentucky – 277 of 300 received
* 1 February – Ohio – 4 of 350 received
* 1 February – Washington – needs 1,000 scarves; no numbers reported yet;
* 4 February – New Jersey – 195 of 1,000 received
* 8 February – South Dakota – 114 of 800 received
* 14 February – Colorado – 35 of 800 received
* 15 February – Vermont – 20 of 300 received
* 1 March – Alaska – 250 of 750 received
* 1 March – Utah – 10-15 of 300 received (an estimate; they haven’t opened the package yet).
* 30 December – Oklahoma – 90 of 1,812 received

Complete details can be found on the Facebook page ‘Knit and Crochet for a Cause‘ and the Ravelry group State Special Olympics Scarf Project. Click on the links on the sidebar at the right.

It’s been slow so far, and as is usually the case, there’ll probably be an avalanche of scarves sent in towards the last week before the deadlines. The holiday season has caught up with us, and there’s other priorities and projects going on. There’s actually been a day or two that I haven’t picked up yarn to work on projects! Imagine that! A day without playing with yarn! That’s awful, isn’t it?

Scarves for SO New Jersey

Here’s the latest numbers for the scarf project, with the December 2012 and January 2013 deadline dates:

* 15 December – Tennessee – 56 of 200 received
* 23 December – Iowa – 259 of 800 received
* 30 December – Oklahoma – 14 of 1,812 received

As of today, we have 19 states participating and over 13,000 scarves to make.

And about 10,o00 to make for December 2012 and January 2013. All of a sudden I’m nervous … are we going to make those numbers in time? I know that we’ve just started on this, but the first deadline is in four months, and seeing those numbers suddenly boggled my mind. I’m sure we’ll make it … us crafters can crank those scarves out everyday! lol Here’s a scarf that I was working while on the beach a couple of weeks ago.